North Bend Pipeline Hearing

Jordan Cove in foreground, with tip of North Bend to be crossed by pipeline in the distance.\Photo by Rena Olson.

The battle against the Jordan Cove Energy Project’s attempt to develop an LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit has many fronts. One of these is Jordan Cove’s application to cross the city of North Bend with the pipeline that would feed natural gas to the facility. Oregon Shores strongly opposed this proposal when it received a public hearing by the North Bend planning commission, as did local residents.

However, the planning commission approved Jordan Cove’s application. In the city’s statement, “After the initial public hearing, the City of North Bend Planning Commission decided to approve the consolidated land use applications for floodplain development and proposed uses and activities in the estuary, finding that the proposal substantially complies with, or can comply with conditions, the criteria for development in the floodplain.”

Now the action moves to the city council, since local residents have appealed the decision. Oregon Shores supports the appeal and will be filing testimony. We continue to argue that the application does not justify this kind of development affecting an estuary and floodplain.

The hearing on the appeal, which will actually be by a hearings officer who will then make a recommendation to the city council, takes place on Tuesday, July 23, 9 a.m. in the city council chambers at North Bend City Hall (835 California Ave.). Any citizen can testify.

While this issue involves just a one-mile portion of the Pacific Connector pipeline as it crosses North Bend, it could be a bottleneck that could stop the entire 229-mile pipeline crossing southern Oregon from Malin to the North Spit.

Written testimony and evidence may be submitted prior to and at the public hearing. Written testimony and evidence may be submitted via e-mail. However, North Bend has a peculiar rule that a hard copy of all written testimony and evidence submitted to the City must be provided “at the time of submittal,” so if you do e-mail comments you will also need to print out a copy and mail it that day. Testimony given in person or by mail in advance of the public hearing should be directed to the City Planning Department located at North Bend City Hall, 835 California Ave., North Bend, OR 97459. A copy of the public hearing meeting materials will be available for inspection at no cost at least seven days prior to the meeting. Additional information concerning the public hearing may be obtained by contacting Chelsea Schnabel, City Planner at (541) 756-8535. You can also contact her, or submit e-mailed comments, at [email protected].

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